The little dumpling, with a wooden skewer in its mouth, tilted its head and said, "Wu Shashen is a friend I met on the road. He's fearless and much more powerful than you."

"I wasn't that great to begin with."

Chu Peiran laughed heartily, "I am a scholar, we should reason with each other."

The old woman brought the grilled fish to the table and said warmly, "Sir, your grilled fish is ready. Please enjoy."

The little dumpling sat at the table eating grilled fish.

The middle-aged vendor brought them a pot of wine and two small wine cups, smiling kindly, "Sirs, thank you for patronizing our business. This pot of wine is free for you."

"Thank you, boss."

Qin Luo and Chu Peiran bowed in greeting.

This pot of wine isn't much, but it still costs several coins.

Chu Peiran picked up the wine pot and poured two cups of wine. "Brother Dao, you have helped me a lot. I'd like to toast you."

Qin Luo raised his wine glass in a gesture of respect.

They drank it all in one gulp.

After finishing a glass of wine, Chu Peiran sighed, "My father was an official in the capital, and he always walked on thin ice. He often told me that it's not that having many friends makes the road easier, but rather that if you walk the road well, you will naturally have many friends. Only now do I understand what he meant."

"That makes sense."

After Qin Luo descended the mountain, whether he was heading to Yanbei City or the capital, he made many friends along the way, all of whom left a deep impression on him.

Where's the fish?

Chu Peiran's eyes widened.

In the time it takes to drink a cup of wine, only fish bones remain on the plate. As the little dumpling picked up the wine pot, Qin Luo grabbed the handle, saying, "You can't drink wine."

"All right."

The little dumpling obediently let go.

She didn't want to eat Qin Luo's chestnuts.

Qin Luo picked up the wine pot and poured two cups of wine. "Brother Chu, since there are no dishes, I'll drink with you."

"Haha, great!"

Chu Peiran raised his wine glass again.

After finishing his drink, Chu Peiran went to the stall and took out a piece of silver. "Boss, you don't need to give me change. Just exchange it for grilled fish and lamb skewers. We'll come back to get them."

"Yes, sir!"

The middle-aged stall owner couldn't stop smiling.

Qin Luo and Chu Peiran continued shopping. They came to a flea market where there were many old furniture and antiques for sale at low prices.

Chu Peiran bought a large amount of paper and ink, leaving some at Qinghelou and carrying some with him.

Qin Luo bought a red rope for one coin.

"Tie your hair up."

"Ugh, so annoying!"

The little girl picked up the red string and tied her hair into a high ponytail, but she still had that proud little tuft of hair sticking out, making her look less like a wild girl.

Qin Luo then handed the purse to the little dumpling, saying, "This purse is for you."

The little girl happily hugged the purse. Although her pockets could hold more things, she was especially happy because it was a gift from her eldest brother.

The little dumpling put two golden lotus seeds in its pouch, then stuffed the large pouch into the small pocket of its red dress. "Thank you, boss."

Qin Luo and the others had just left not far.

A sharp-eyed middle-aged man in a blue robe approached the old woman selling red ropes. "Aunt Wang, give me this copper coin, and I'll give you a tael of silver."

"Xiao Wang, are you crazy?"

Are you going to change it or not?

"Change."

Who wouldn't agree to such a good deal? The old woman took the silver, bit it, and then wiped it clean. "I've really come a long way today, to find such a bargain."

The middle-aged man in blue robes was the owner of an antique shop. In his youth, he sought immortality and learned some skills in observing qi. He could see a faint light on the copper coin. "Such a rich incense smell. Anything a master like this could casually take out would be priceless."

Chu Peiran also found some old chessboards that could be used after washing.

The little dumpling sat on Qin Luo's shoulder and said, "Big brother, I want to eat candied hawthorn."

"Next time."

Qin Luo did not agree, and said softly, "You need to learn to control your desires."

"Hey!"

The little dumpling closed its eyes.

"Selling candied hawthorns!"

"Sweet and sour candied hawthorns!"

The little girl's mouth watered at the sound of the pancakes, so she had to cover her ears. Then, when she smelled the aroma of the pancakes, she had to pinch her nose because she was too busy to handle them all.

Qin Luo and Chu Peiran were amused by her.

They went to the barbecue restaurant they had visited before, and Chu Peiran returned to Qinghelou carrying barbecue wrapped in lotus leaves.

By this time, all the guests in the building had left.

DouDou and CaiXia are cleaning the building, while XiaoTao is keeping accounts.

"We brought back some delicious food!"

The little dumpling grinned and said, "Caixia, come and eat some barbecue, it smells delicious."

Chu Peiran placed the lotus leaf on the table, and after spreading it out, the table was full of roasted lamb skewers and roasted fish.

"Thank you, Young Master Chu!"

"Eat whatever you like, don't be shy."

DouDou brought over the wine that Qinghelou hadn't finished. Chu Peiran and XiaoTao sat around the table, eating grilled fish and drinking wine, feeling incredibly comfortable.

Qin Luo sat next to Master Guichen, looking at the scriptures that Guichen had copied. The little dumpling sat on Qin Luo's shoulder, and could only swallow her saliva as she looked at the food on the table.

"Sister Tuanzi, why aren't you eating?"

"Hehe, I've already eaten."

The little dumpling looked indifferent, but she didn't dare to eat without Qin Luo's permission.

A pig's head popped out of the golden bowl, saying, "Don't forget me, Old Pig."

Clang!

Gui Chen smacked the pig's head.

The pig demon was knocked unconscious again.

Gui Chen said softly, "Amitabha."

“Young Master Chu, while we were cleaning, we found that some customers had left copper coins on the table, and more than one customer did it.”

"This proves they like Qinghelou."

"Hahaha."

Laughter and cheerful voices filled Qinghe Tower.